Angels' Calhoun out to earn his place right from the start

Feb. 21, 2014

Updated 9:18 p.m.

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Angels outfielder Kole Calhoun knows he didn't earn a spot on the roster with his performance in spring training last year, and vows to rectify that this spring. KEVIN SULLIVAN, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER

Angels outfielder Kole Calhoun knows he didn't earn a spot on the roster with his performance in spring training last year, and vows to rectify that this spring. KEVIN SULLIVAN, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER

TEMPE, Ariz. – Mike Scioscia wasn’t afraid to admit it last year: Kole Calhoun had a terrible spring that cost him a spot on the opening-day roster.

This spring, Calhoun is in an entirely different position, with a starting spot in right field essentially already his and more rewards up for grabs.

“It didn’t hurt my feelings – it was a fact,” Calhoun said Friday of Scioscia’s old biting reviews. “I should’ve had a bigger role last year, but I didn’t go out and play well, so that’s what I’m focused on this spring. I’m trying to earn the job.”

Calhoun’s job in 2014, if things go reasonably well over the next month, could be to lead off a potentially potent Angels lineup in front of Mike Trout, Albert Pujols and Josh Hamilton.

That, after Calhoun hit .174 (8 for 46) in spring games last year, quickly playing himself off the 25-man roster in favor of J.B. Shuck. Then he fractured the hamate bone in his right wrist on Triple-A Salt Lake’s opening day.

But when he came back six weeks later, Calhoun was a changed hitter, posting a .381 average in his first 15 Triple-A games and reaching base in every one. Six weeks after that, he was in the big leagues, where he hit .282 over the final two months while displaying above-average power and plate discipline.

“There’s a lot of stuff that happens that forces you to make decisions on how you’re going to deal with it,” Calhoun said. “For me, it was a choice to simplify a lot of things. I started to get some success, so I stuck with it.”

Scioscia said he sensed Calhoun, 26, realized during his time off that he needed to shorten his left-handed swing and alter his approach.

He said he might again alter the way he approaches at-bats atop the Angels’ batting order.

“If I’m hitting first in front of Trout, everything’s changing for them,” Calhoun said of opposing pitchers. “They’re gonna pitch to me. They don’t want to pitch to Trout. I’m going to get good pitches to hit. But if I’ve gotta be an on-base guy and bunt my way on, then that’s who I’ll be.”

ONE LAST GO

Chad Tracy turns 34 in May. He needed two hits in his last game of 2013 to raise his average above .200 for the first time all season.

His eight-year major league career appears to be nearing its end. But he’s pushing back on retirement for now.

“I didn’t feel it in my heart,” Tracy said this week. “I wasn’t ready to go out yet.”

So Tracy decided to contend for a bench spot on a minor league deal this spring, picking the Angels mostly because of a call from General Manager Jerry Dipoto, whom he knew from their days with the Arizona Diamondbacks.

“At this point in my career, for somebody to actually pick up the phone and call you means a lot,” Tracy said. “He obviously knows me and knows what kind of character I have, and what I can bring to the team.”

Tracy has played mostly third base and first base in recent seasons, and he’s competing with fellow veterans Ian Stewart, Carlos Pena and John McDonald in camp for one or two available reserve slots.

Dipoto made no promises.

“He just said I was going to provide depth,” Tracy said. “That can be taken in many ways.”

NOTES

The Angels held their first day of live batting practice. Three expected members of the starting rotation threw: Jered Weaver, Garrett Richards and Hector Santiago. Several non-roster invitees and relievers Joe Smith, Kevin Jepsen and Michael Kohn also threw to hitters. The projected everyday lineup rotated in at the plate, save for catchers Hank Conger and Chris Iannetta. Smith, a sidearmer, broke Albert Pujols’ bat, and right-hander Matt Shoemaker shattered Josh Hamilton’s lumber with a splitter. …

Second baseman Grant Green practiced at third base in the offseason – until the Angels acquired David Freese in late November, at which point he exclusively worked at second, he said. He has spent some time at shortstop since reporting to spring training. Green was drafted as a shortstop by Oakland in 2009 and will likely have to man multiple positions to make the 25-man roster over John McDonald and Andrew Romine. …

The Angels are expecting an annual visit from MLB next week that could sort out questions regarding the new home-plate collision ban, Scioscia said.

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